Former MAC Coach of the Year Jim McElwain announced he would be retiring from coaching a few months ago, meaning Central Michigan would need a new head coach.
CMU went ahead and hired Matt Drinkall, the offensive line coach at Army, to lead the program in hopes of being competitive in the MAC in the near future.
Here’s more about Matt Drinkall and his resume.
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What’s Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Salary?
Matt Drinkall signed a five-year contract worth about $640,000 per year with other additional incentives. Previous CMU head coach Jim McElwain made $1.05 million in total pay in 2024, according to USA Today.
Matt Drinkall’s Coaching History
| Years | Team | Position |
| 2025-Present | Central Michigan | HC |
| 2024 | Army | OL |
| 2023 | Army | Co-OC/OL |
| 2020-23 | Army | TEs |
| 2019 | Army | Quality Control |
| 2014-19 | Kansas Wesleyan | HC/OC |
| 2012-14 | St. Ambrose | OC |
| 2010-12 | St. Ambrose | OL |
| 2008-09 | St. Ambrose | WRs |
| 2006-08 | Western Illinois | TEs |
What’s Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Record?
Matt Drinkall is 0-0 in the FBS as a head coach. The 2025 season will be his first year as a head coach at that level.
How Old Is Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall?
Matt Drinkall is 42 years old.
Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Background
In 2024, Army was first in the country with 300.5 rushing yards per game. The Black Knights also averaged 31.1 points and 381.1 yards per game. Army’s O-line earned the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the most outstanding offensive line in the country.
Drinkall had been at Army since 2019, where he was also a co-offensive coordinator, a tight ends coach, and a quality control coach. Before that, he was a head coach and offensive coordinator at Kansas Wesleyan from 2014-19. He was also an offensive coordinator (2012-14), an offensive line coach (2010-12), and a wide receivers coach (2008-09) at St. Ambrose University in Iowa. He coached tight ends at Western Illinois from 2006-08 and was a wide receivers/defensive backs coach at Bettendorf High School in Iowa from 2003-05.
